Professional service assisance for database and JAVA programming for San Francisco International Airport.

Overview

The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) sought professional service assistance for database and JAVA programming to complete required changes that address defined problems and support business enhancements for the continued use of its Contract Specification System (CSS).

CSS is a JAVA application that was developed in house by SFO business support. It is a critical business application that is primarily used by approximately forty Project Managers/Contract Managers within the Airport’s Design and Construction Division (D&C) to create and manage Construction Contracts. Additional users of CSS include SFO Legal and the Contract Administration Unit (CAU).

Challenges

CSS application system components included:

• 1. Windows Server 2003 V5.2
• 2. MySQL 5.0
• 3. Tomcat 5.5.27
• 4. SUN JVM Java JRE 1.6.0_7 b6
• 5. MySQL JDBC Connector 5.x
• 6. Java Servlet and Server Pages
• 7. Various/numerous Java Libraries
• 8. Windows File System

This project required a vendor with senior knowledge and indepth experience with Windows Server 2003, Tomcat Application Server, and MySQL, JDBC and core J2EE components and libraries. DTI was required to complete JAVA programming and development using an application development lifecycle, i.e., analysis of business, functional and non-functional requirements, creation of design specifications and code, ability to test, deploy and implementation approved changes.

Solutions Provided

Solutions for this project included development, testing and implementation of CSS changes to fix current problems and address desired enhancements. Additionally, project tasks included the necessary database programming to accommodate new reports and additional reporting features and capabilities.

• A. Design and implement systems integration. The Airport’s Contract Administration Unit (CAU) has overarching contract administration responsibilities. The CAU manages its activities using a “CAU Contract Database” which is also in need of an upgrade. DTI determined that system integration will enhance the business flow between CAU and project managers in other divisions.
• B. Used JDBC to connect CSS application to additional MySQL databases. And provided additional security to database instances via Tomcat’s Container Managed Security.
• C. Configuring Resource References to improve application and database portability.
• D. Improved system usability: Improved the usability of the system so it is more intuitive and user friendly, eliminating extraneous mouse clicks.
• E. Increase automation of functions (from manual processes): Implemented automatic validation mechanism to ensure that all input fields has been filled in, and then the DRAFT watermark to be automatically removed.
• F. Include new contract types designations: The old CSS system only handles formal contracts. The client desired to include other contract Types such as informal, federal, as‐needed, and design‐build.
• G. Automated contract language changes administration
• H. Added new administration functionalities: Previously, there were no user interface to add new contract templates or new fields.
• I. Completed root cause analysis of reported problems and recommend workable solutions to fix these problems;
• J. Completed analysis for requested business enhancements in context of existing application, define functional requirements and recommend application changes to meet these enhancements;
• K. Create and validate existence of a testing environment as required for testing of all application changes,
• L. Identify and validate all recommended application and design changes using ITT Change Management process including development of test, implementation and fallback plans;
• M. M. Provided training as needed for future maintainability by ITT and/or business as appropriate.